ANKARA - Following are the highlights from today's Turkish daily SABAH. The Anadolu Agency is not responsible of opinions expressed or the context of the editorials and does not vouch for their accuracy.
In an interview with the Sabah daily, writer- journalist Kenize Murad, granddaughter of the ousted Ottoman Emperor Sultan Murad V, whose books are on the best-seller lists in France, has assessed image of Turkey in Europe, especially in France, following recent developments.
According to Murad, French people's extremely negative point of view about Turkey stemmed from activities of Armenian lobby in that country.
"Armenian lobby is really powerful in France. They have a sound influence on the press. On the other hand, they do not refrain from committing murders. When you say that Armenian genocide has never taken place, they openly provoke someone to kill you, or you may be victim of a so-called accident. What does the Turkish government do while Armenians carry out such lobby efforts in France? Simply nothing. So why shall I get myself killed? It is meaningless. I think that the Turkish government should take urgent action to this end," she says.
Referring to France's negative attitude against Turkey, Murad notes, "French people are definitely opposed to Turkey's membership to the EU. There are three main reasons for this: First of all, Armenians make extremely negative propaganda. Secondly, Kurdish people make extremely negative propaganda. And finally nationalist Greek people undertake lobby efforts somehow less seriously."
"Turkey's population is another important factor. Since unemployment has increased considerably in France, French people are concerned that Turks would come to their country and get the remaining jobs. Actually, they are right to some extent. But there is another thing in which they are totally wrongful. They do not want Turkey's membership since it is a predominantly Muslim country," she says.
According to Murad, killing of Armenian origin journalist Hrant Dink and the recent incident in Malatya, gave rise to anti-Turkish lobby activities in Europe. "It is quite hard to explain Turkish people's religious stance to French people. They do not believe that Turkish people are secular, like the Christians. Killing of three people in Malatya had an extremely negative impact on French public opinion."
"I made some detailed research about allegations on Armenian genocide. I worked with important historians. I can simply say that such a genocide has never taken place. Both parties suffered heavy loss of lives in 1915. And there is a fact that should not be forgotten: both parties were armed and they were in a warfare," she stresses.
Murad adds, "today, I cannot say freely in France that such a genocide has never been committed. There is not such a freedom in France any longer. I made an interview with a Belgian newspaper, but they did not publish it. Today, none of French newspapers gives place to views of a person who says there was not an Armenian genocide."